HAYES & Yeading goalkeeper Delroy Preddie believes the best is still to come from him – at the age of 34.

Preddie (pictured) has made an impressive start to his second spell at Church Road as stand-in for Lee Harrison and he has already extended his club record number of clean sheets to 21.

But he believes his veteran years between the sticks can be the best of his career.

“To be an understudy at my age is a completely different thing for me,” he said. “But Lee and I get on really well and he is an experienced goalkeeper, having played league football for a long time.

“I am 34, but you do not stop learning and I am taking tips off Lee with his professionalism. I have always believed that I am capable at this level. It is just unfortunate that I have not had the chance to do it before.

“But I am a confident lad and I believe in my ability – I believe that I can step up to this level.”

Preddie's return to Hayes & Yeading in January delighted the Hayes & Yeading faithful as he was an integral part of the club's promotion the Blue Square Premier in 2009.

And he is determined not to go back the other way and be a part of a Hayes & Yeading side that is relegated back to Blue Square South.

“I am over the moon to be back here, the fans are great to me and it is always good to be appreciated – I have got to revel in it,” he added.

“It is all to play for if we work as hard as we have been. We have good quality in the side and good young players. It takes time to mould them all into a team, but I think we have turned that corner.

“First and foremost we have the team spirit going and stick together.”